Acute hepatitis induced by alpha-interferon, associated with viral clearance, in chronic hepatitis C.
We describe the cases of two patients with chronic hepatitis C who developed acute hepatitis with marked amino-transferase elevations and jaundice 3 and 5 months after initiation of interferon treatment. Hepatitis resolved rapidly after cessation of interferon. No autoantibodies were detected. Hepatitis was followed by viral clearance, demonstrated by clearance of hepatitis C viraemia. We propose that hepatitis may be due to an immune lysis of hepatocytes and suggest that this immune response may contribute to viral clearance.
Cervoni
J P
JP
Unité de Recherches de Physiopathologie Hépatique (INSERM U 24) Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy, France.
Degos
F
F
Marcellin
P
P
Erlinger
S
S
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins